Who can’t get enough of Mike “My Pillow” Lindell? Everyone’s favorite pillow salesman and election denier has filed paperwork to run for governor of Minnesota. And while he hasn’t conclusively made a decision, he is strongly leaning in that direction. If he runs, he will face at least nine opponents for the Republican endorsement. And if he is successful in the primary, he will face two-term governor and former vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz. What could be more fun than having “My Pillow Guy” in the race?
“My Pillow Guy’s” Background
Mike Lindell has a diverse and colorful background. Born in Mankato, Minnesota, he briefly attended the University of Minnesota before dropping out. In addition to a teenage addiction to gambling, Mr. “My Pillow” first became hooked on cocaine and then crack cocaine. These problems led to the end of his first marriage and a foreclosure on his home. He would not truly kick his addictions until 2009.
In between, he launched several businesses, including a carpet cleaning service, several lunch wagons, and a couple of bars and restaurants. Lindell founded My Pillow in 2004 and built it into a successful Minnesota manufacturing company. But everything was not a bed of roses for him. In 2017, the Better Business Bureau revoked My Pillow’s accreditation, lowering its rating to an F. This was due to customer complaints that the company was running a continuous sale of its products.
2020 Election Denial
Lindell became an early supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election and appeared with Mr. Trump at multiple press conferences and conventions. And following Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, “My Pillow Guy” became one of the leading voices in declaring the election fraudulent and claiming Trump was the real winner.
And it cost him. Because of his claims, major retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, and Walmart discontinued selling Lindell’s products. In June of this year, a jury ruled that he must pay a former Dominion Voting Systems exec $2.3 million due to false claims Lindell made that the company had rigged voting machines to steal the election from Trump.
Mr. “My Pillow’s” Announcement
Regarding his potential candidacy, Mr Lindell said,
“I’m 95, 98 percent there. I will be making an announcement at a news conference one way or another next Thursday. I’m told the field is crowded. It doesn’t matter. If there was someone to win, it would be me.”
No matter what he decides, it will be interesting. One thing is for sure: when the conversation turns to “My Pillow guy,” the outcome will be wacky, chaotic, and unpredictable.
